E-Bike

 

Block Diagram

 

 

 

Design Considerations

 

Electric bikes are becoming an increasingly intriguing  option for commuters who live relatively close to work or for those looking for  an alternative to the more expensive motorized options.  As battery and motor technology forges ahead,  the speed and range of E-bikes are surging with it. The E-bike can use a  variety of components based on the desired cost and complexity of the design.

The core subsystems include:

 

Controller:
 Typically includes detection, A/D conversion, and output  comparison components.  For a low-end  system, the ultra-low power microcontroller is available while the C2000  digital signal processor can be used for a complex system with more features.

 

Electric motor:
 Typically either brush or brushless DC motors are used for  the E-bike.  The brushless, although more  reliable and efficient, can increase the bike weight.  

 

Battery:
 A variety of battery types are used from lead-acid to  lithium.  The lead-acid battery is  commonly used for its low-cost but is much larger and heavier as well as less  “green” than the lithium battery.   

 

Power management:
 Provides power to run functional blocks and oversees battery  activity.  For a low-end E-bike, the host  controller with comparators and discretes can be used to manage a lead-acid  battery.  More complex E-bikes utilize  specific ICs which offer cell protection, monitoring and fuel gauging to  provide safety and critical information about the lithium battery to the user.